Wesley's 50^th Anniversary Celebration Plans

Plans for Wesley's 50^th Anniversary Celebration September 23-25, 2005 are well underway.  Last Sunday's planning session has produced a weekend filled with activities and lots of people eager to participate. Anne Scott will serve as overall coordinator.

This is what tentatively is planned to happen.  If you would like to help, please call the listed organizer or Anne and volunteer.

Leading up to the weekend:

• A Wesley cookbook will be organized by the United Methodist Women.  Lillie Johnson is the chair.  It will be available the celebration weekend.
• This winter/spring a committee will compile the name and addresses of former Wesley members and will send out invitations to the celebration.  Pastor Kimberly has already sent invitations to the former pastors and their spouses.
• A new Wesley pictorial directory will be developed.  Pictures of all Wesley members will be taken April 28-30. We are using Olan Mills photography, and we already have their materials so that we can organize early.  The directory will be distributed at the celebration weekend.  Anne Scott will organize the directory.
• This spring Dave and Judy Longbottom will organize a "Preachers Afoot" outreach effort to visit all the homes surrounding Wesley to invite the neighbors to attend a worship service.  They will pattern this program after the efforts of Rev. Oglesby, Wesley's founder.
• Carolyn Ashlock will design a Wesley celebration shirt, and orders will be taken prior to the event.  The shirts will be given out the week of the celebration.
• Heidi Mensink will be commissioned to write a piece in commemoration of Wesley's 50^th anniversary.  It will be presented Sunday morning.

The celebration weekend:

All weekend:  Art and photography show in Oglesby Hall.  Rose Lester and Anna Murillo will co-chair this event.

Fri., Sept. 23:  Pizza and a variety show in the Gathering Place.  Wesley's music groups, puppets, line-dancing and an old-fashioned hymn sing may be featured.  Caroline Close will chair the dinner organization.   Margaret Grant and Carolyn Ashlock will organize the variety show.

Sat., Sept. 24:

Morning:  Pancake breakfast for Wesley members and neighbors.  The annual blanket/coat giveaway, the packing of UMCOR kits and other mission outreach activities will be done this morning.  Phil Maxwell will chair this activity, assisted by Missions/Social Concerns and UMW members.

Noon:  Pastor Kimberly will host a lunch for the former pastors and their spouses.  Laura Daillak and Stella Rous will organize the lunch.

No afternoon scheduled events but the art show will be open, and people will be encouraged to come socialize with out of town former members and the former pastors and spouses.

Evening:  A dinner and program with the former pastors talking about significant Wesley events of the past.  Each decade will be highlighted.  The dinner will be catered so everyone can enjoy the program.  Barbara Knowlton and Lillie Johnson will co-chair the dinner organization.  Jerry Ludeke will organize the program.

Sun., Sept. 25:

Morning:  Joint worship service.  The commissioned musical piece will be presented.  Pastor Kimberly and the Worship Committee will plan the service.

Lunch:  Soup and sandwiches and a farewell program and burying of a time capsule.  The program will feature a power point presentation of Wesley pictures done by Nick Strobel.  Jerilyn Smith will organize the time capsule.

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